CLEVELAND, Ohio – This year's group of defensive tackles is
one of the best to come around in a long time. The Top 5 could all end up being called in the first round. Even though the position sometimes get
overlooked – these guys do the dirty work while the ends pile up the stats –
having a force disrupting offenses from the inside can take a defense to
another level. Any team that has a need for defensive tackle better fill it
early because the level of quality plummets after the first five players on this list.

1. Aaron Donald, 6-0, 285 lbs, Pittsburgh

Coming out of high
school, very few people took a chance on Donald because he doesn't have the prototypical size of a defensive tackle.
However, Donald rewarded Pittsburgh for taking a chance as he became one of the
best defensive players in the country and finished his career with a loaded
trophy case. His final season at Pitt was his best, finishing with 28.5 tackles
for loss to lead the country. He also had 11 sacks, which is a phenomenal
number for a tackle. His incredible year continued at the Senior Bowl where he
was the best player, and then he showed off unique athleticism and quickness at
the Scouting Combine. Quickness. Power. Active hands. Instincts. Intelligence. Donald might be shorter
than most defensive linemen, but he disrupts from the interior – a skill not
easy to find.

View full sizeNotre Dame defensive lineman Louis Nix III had an injury-riddled season that has raised questions about how high he will get drafted.AP Photo/Michael Conroy

2. Louis Nix III, 6-2, 331 lbs, Notre Dame

Unlike Donald, Nix was highly sought after coming out of the
Florida area. The talented DT ultimately chose Notre Dame where he made 30
starts for the Irish. If you focus on his 2013 campaign, you might be a bit
disappointed. Nix played eight games and recorded two sacks as the entire Irish
defense took a step back. But go back to 2012, when he was healthy, and Nix
looks like a Top 20 pick.

With a unique blend of size, power, quickness and
athleticism, Nix is a handful, often requiring double-teams to keep him out of
the backfield.

3. Dominique Easley, 6-1, 288 lbs, Florida

Injuries have been the story of Easley's up-and-down career.
He tore his left ACL in 2011, and the right ACL this past season. If not for medical concerns, he would be a Top 20 pick
thanks to his first step burst and explosiveness, helping him become one of
the most talented players in the draft.

Along with unique athleticism, Easley also displays the
strength and powerful punch to shed blockers. An undersized, but
relentless player with experience at tackle and end, the medicals will likely determine Easley's draft position. His skills say the aggressive tackle belongs in
Round One.

View full sizeFlorida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan has the talent to dominate, but disappears too often.AP Photo/John Raoux

4. Timmy Jernigan, 6-1, 299 lbs, Florida State

Jernigan spent two years as a productive rotational player
for Florida State before becoming a full-time starter in 2013.

As one of
the anchors of the Noles' D, Jernigan finished with 63 tackles, 11 tackles for
loss and 4.5 sacks. The 300-pounder is light on his feet and moves well for a
player his size. Jernigan, who played different positions for FSU, is an
immensely talented player with the ability to take over games, but he can also be frustrating as he disappears for stretches, which brings
conditioning into question.

5. Ra'Shede Hageman, 6-5, 310 lbs, Minnesota

The former high school tight end with a basketball
background transitioned to the defensive side of the ball after redshirting his
first season with the Golden Gophers. It was a slow start as he worked in a
rotation, but became a full-time starter in 2012. He was named Team MVP this
past season after finishing with 13 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pair of
blocked kicks. He looks the part of a star, with length, strength, speed and
athleticism. But he is too inconsistent and disappears for stretches. With
better understanding of schemes, technique, hand usage and counter moves,
Hageman could become a dominant force. It will take time though, and will be up
to him to decide whether he wants to realize his immense potential.

Also keep an eye on:

Will Sutton, 6-0, 303 lbs, Arizona State

Coming into this year, there was a lot of excitement
surrounding Sutton as he was coming off a season with 64
tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks and three forced fumbles. Whether he
did it on his own or the coaches asked, Sutton added weight this past
off-season, which took away some of his burst and affected his balance.
Hopefully he's learned from the mistake. Even though he can be
overaggressive and has a bit of a history of laziness, which he admitted in
2010, Sutton uses his hands well and understands proper leverage.

Ego Ferguson, 6-2, 315 lbs, LSU

Ferguson started just one season at LSU, but it was a pretty
good one, setting career-highs with 58 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one
sack. He's big and stout against the run while also showing off athleticism to
put pressure on the quarterback. A raw player with very little experience and
production, Ferguson will have to go somewhere and learn for a few years before
taking meaningful snaps. His hand usage leaves a lot to be desired and never
impacted the games the way he should have. Ferguson will be drafted based on his
intriguing potential.

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